Bottle and can lifter



June 20, 1961 P. w. BROWNE 2,989,334

BOTTLE AND CAN LIFTER Filed Jan. 16, 1958 Fig.

i 3: Fig.3

Paul W Browne 1N VEN TOR.

Y w fi wa United States Patent 2,989,334 BOTTLE AND CAN LIFTER Paul W. Browne, R.F.D. 2, Roadhouse, 111., assignor of fifty-one percent to himself and John C. Andras, jointly,

and forty-nine percent to Lloyd Martin and Frank A.

Thomas, joinfly, all of Winchester, 11].

Filed Jan. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 709,339 3 Claims. (Cl. 294-19) The present invention generally relates to a lifting device and more particularly to a lifter for bottles, cans or similar rubbish whereby the bottles or cans may be picked up without the operator bending over and deposited into a suitable receptacle such as the can, bottle and rubbish container disclosed in my Patent No. 2,926,923, issued March 1, 1960.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bottle and can lifter incorporating a movable jaw and a fixed jaw with the movable jaw being operable from a position remote therefrom whereby articles may be gripped between the jaws and moved in a desired manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lifter in accordance with the preceding object in which means is provided for encircling the forearm of the operator and also providing a grip for the operators hand whereby the device may be employed without discomfort to the operator.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a lifter which incorporates a pointed peg which is extensible for use in picking up paper, cardboard or the like and also for supporting the lifter in vertical position during periods of non-use.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of operation, adaptation for its particular purposes and relatively inexpensive manufacturing cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the lifter of the present invention illustrating the manner of using the same; 7

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the lifter of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the details of construction of the present invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the construction of the upper end of the lifter.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the bottle and can lifter of the present invention.

The lifter 10 includes a longitudinally extending and elongated tubular member 12 having an operating rod 14 extending therethrough. The upper end of the operating rod extends above the upper end of the tubular member 12 and terminates in a pair of finger grips 16. Disposed in the tubular member 12 below the upper end thereof is a sleeve 18 slidably receiving the rod 14 and permitting a certain degree of flexible move ment thereof as the lower end may necessarily move laterally in the tubular member. Also provided on the rod 14 is a collar 20 which engages one end of a coil compression spring 22 which has the other end thereof abut- "ice ' 2 ting the sleeve 18 whereby the rod 14 will be normally urged downwardly in the tubular member 12.

At the lower end of the tubular member 12, there is provided a generally U-shaped bracket member 24 having one leg thereof bifurcated as indicated by the numeral 26 for pivotally receiving on a pivot pin 28 a bell crank member generally designated by the numeral 30 and including an operating portion 32 and a clamp jaw portion or member 34. The operating portion 32 is secured to the rod 14 for pivotal movement of the bell crank 30 upon longitudinal movement of the rod 14. There is a pin and slot connection as indicated bythe numeral 36 or the slot may be eliminated since the fiexure of the rod 14 would be suflicient to permit longitudinal movement thereof for moving the jaw member 34 inwardly and outwardly in relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 12. The other leg of the U-shaped member 24 is rigid as designated by the numeral 38 and is provided with a curved stationary jaw 40' thereon for opposition to the jaw member 34 wherein a can, bottle or the like 42 may be gripped therebetween when the finger grips 16 are gripped and the rod 14 is pulled upwardly to bring the jaw member 34 towards the stationary jaw 40. Thus by manipulation of the finger grip 16, the lifter of the present invention may be operated for effectively gripping a can or bottle 42.

At the upper end of the tubular member 12 there is provided a tubular handle assembly generally designated by the numeral 42 which includes an upwardly extending portion 44 offset from the tubular member 12 and a horizontally extending hand grip portion 46 overlying the the double finger grip 16. The hand grip portion 46 terminates in an elongated longitudinally extending portion 48 in parallel relation to the tubular member 12 but spaced laterally therefrom. The upper end of the tubular extension 48 is provided with a transversely extending annular ring or band 50 which encircles the forearm 52 of the operator 54. The hand grip 46 is for receiving the hand 56 and when the hand 56 is engaged with the hand grip 46, the fingers of the operator may readily engage the finger grips '16 for operation thereof. A knob 58 is provided on the hand grip '46 against which the little finger may rest and the generally U-shaped strap 60 is attached to the outer vertical surface of the hand grip 46 for extending over the knuckles of the hand 56 and generally facilitating the lifting and guiding of the lifter. In combination with the ring 50, the strap 60 provides accurate attachment of the lifter 10 to the arm of the operator 54.

Attached to the tubular member 12 is a tubular sleeve 62 slidably receiving an elongated pointed rod 64 having a laterally offset upper end 66 and a pointed lower end 68 slidably received within a vertical bore 70 in the stationary leg of the U-shaped member 24. A ring member 72 is welded to the tubular member 12 below the sleeve 62 and a coil compression spring 74 rests against the member 72 and encircles the rod 64 and terminates in engagement with a ring member 76 rigid with the rod 64. The rod 64 is provided with a laterally extending lug 78 slidable in a longitudinal groove 80 in the sleeve 62. The longitudinal groove terminates at its bottom in a laterally extending groove or slot 82 forming substantially a bayonet type slot for the ing 78 whereby the laterally extending upper end 66 will act as a handle so that the rod 64 may be forced downwardly and the rod rotated about its longitudinal axis for engaging the lug 78 in the slot 82 thus locking the pointed end 68 in projected position beyond the lower end of the lifter whereby the pointed end may be used for picking up paper, cardboard or the like and also may be used for insertion into the ground for holding the lifter 10 in vertical position when the same is not actually in use.

The operation of the device will appear clear from the foregoing description with the device being employed for picking up various types of trash or rubbish and which may be supported from the ground surface in readily accessible position when the same is not being used.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An arm supported lifter comprising an elongated tubular member, a stationary jaw mounted rigidly on one end of said tubular member and offset laterally of the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, a bellcrank member having the apex thereof pivotally attached to said one end of the tubular member in laterally offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member and diametrically opposed to the stationary jaw, one leg of said bellcrank member having a concave surface forming a jaw member for swinging movement of the jaw member in relation to the stationary jaw for clamp ing an article therebetween, an elongated rod disposed within said tubular member, one end of said rod being pivotally connected to the other leg of said bellcrank member, the other end of said rod terminating in a finger grip projecting from the other end of said tubular member, said rod having a small cross-sectional area in relation to the cross-sectional area of the tubular member, bearing means adjacent said other end of the tubular member slidably receiving said rod whereby the major portion of the length of the rod is unsupported thereby permitting flexing movement thereof during swinging movement of said one end thereof when the bellcrank is pivoted by moving the rod longitudinally, and a handle assembly rigidly connected to said other end of the tubular member and including a hand grip and arm encircling ring for supporting the tubular member from the arm and hand of an operator.

2. An arm supported lifter comprising an elongated tubular member, a stationary jaw mounted rigidly on one end of said tubular member and ofiset laterally of the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, a bellcrank member having the apex thereof pivotally attached to said one end of the tubular member in laterally offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member and diametrically opposed to the stationary jaw, one leg of said bellcrank member having a concave surface forming a jaw member for swinging movement of the jaw member in relation to the stationary jaw for clamping an article therebetween, an elongated rod disposed within said tubular member, one end of said rod being pivotally connected to the other leg of said bellcrank member, the other end of said rod terminating in a finger grip projecting from the other end of said tubular member, and a handle assembly rigidly connected to said other end of the tubular member for supporting the tubular member from the arm of an operator, said handle assembly including a generally Z-shaped member having a first longitudinal portion attached to the said other end of the tubular member and disposed in offset relation thereto, a transverse hand grip portion extending across thefinger grip in spaced relation thereto whereby the fingers of a hand placed on the hand grip portion may engage the finger grip for moving the rod longitudinally for operating the bellcrank member, a second longitudinal portion connected to the opposite end of the hand grip portion from the first longitudinal portion and spaced laterally from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, said Z-shaped member being disposed substantially in the same longitudinal plane as the bellcrank member, and an annular ring rigidly connected to the free end of the second longitudinal portion and disposed in spaced parallel relation to the hand grip portion with the hand grip portion being disposed diametrically of the annular ring, said ring encircling the forearm of an operator when the operator places his hand on the hand grip portion with the forearm generally forming an extension of the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

3. Thestrueture of claim 2 wherein said hand grip portionis provided with a laterally disposed U-shaped strap enclosing and protecting the knuckles of the hand of the operator and aiding in manipulation of the lifter when lifting articles gripped between the jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

